More in store for Oceanside classroom libraries

OCEANSIDE -- Local students will soon have more library books to
choose from. The Rotary Club of El Camino Real is celebrating the
international organization's centennial by giving 100 books to each
of the Oceanside Unified School District's 17 elementary
schools.

Club President Greg Hayes said the book giveaway was a natural
given the organization's interest in literacy and the state's
dwindling library funds for local schools.

"The state's funding for library books has dropped dramatically
over the last few years," he said. "And since literacy is one of
our focuses, we wanted to put more books in schools."

Five years ago, the school district received about $28 per
student from the state to buy library books, but in that last year
the state's contribution had dwindled to less than $1.50 per
student.

The Rotary Club has already delivered 100 children's books to
Del Rio Elementary and will be delivering books to Ivey Ranch and
Stuart Mesa in the next month, Hayes said. Other schools should see
new books by the end of the school year, Hayes said.

The books are being placed in classrooms where students can have
access to them whenever they want instead of in campus libraries.
The donated books will be rotated every few weeks among second- and
third-grade classrooms, he said.

"When kids have extra time in class, we want books to be there
for them to read," Hayes said.

Del Rio Principal Phyllis Morgan said every book helps.

"My feeling is that giving a student a book is the most precious
gift anyone could give," she said. "It was very generous for them
to do that."

To help pay for the books, the club has held several
fund-raisers over the last several months and is now collecting
donations from members and the community.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Rotary Club's book giveaway
program can call Hayes at (760) 434-3119.